Keonjhar: Thousands of poor people, mostly tribals, eke out their livelihood from kendu leaf gathering in Keonjhar district, but declining targets in leaf collection have left them in a spot.
Imposition of GST and reduced target leading to a fall in the kendu leaf trade has left kendu leaf pluckers and workers engaged in this sector in a spot.
Resentment is brewing among pluckers as their wages have not been revised while remunerations of other labourers have been raised. Insurance has not been made effective for them, they alleged. Recently, leaf puckers had staged an agitation demanding social protection for them.
They demanded that before the election code of conduct is enforced, the government should come out with a notification on their demands.
Earlier, children of kendu leaf pluckers used to get stipends from the dividend of kendu leaf trade. Pluckers and staff used to get allowances and bonus. All those benefits have stopped now.
They pointed out that as the target of leaf collection has come down, it will squeeze the scope of employment for pluckers. Given this situation, uncertainly has started hovering over their livelihood.
Vice president of Rajya Kendupatra Karmachari Sangh, Rohit Choudhry said due to imposition of GST, kendu leaves have not been sold off. After GST, traders do not evince interest in buying leaves.
“So, the GST on leaf should be abolished,” he added. When the regime of Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, 4 lakh quintals of kendu leaves used to be collected in 19 kendu leaf divisions in the state. However, since 2000, seasonal targets of leaf collection have started declining. Pluckers got little scope for collection leading to a fall in their income.
Pluckers said, the government has set a reduced target instead of hiking the target.
In the current year, the target was set at only 1 lakh quintals which has become a cause of deep concern for pluckers. Nearly 12 lakh kendu leaf pluckers work across the state. The sangh said, 10 lakh families draw benefits from this sector.
Once, Keonjhar division produced 30,000 quintals and, last year, the target was reduced to 18,000 quintals. Sadly, the target came down to 1000 quintals in the current year.
Seven ranges – three ranges each in Keonjhar and Dhenkanal and one in Mayurbhanj– come under Keonjahr kendu leaf division.
There are 260 leaf stocking houses in the division. Earlier, the number of such houses was 350.
Rajya Kendupatra Karmachari Sangh has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, seeking removal of uncertainty hovering over livelihood of kendu leaf pluckers.
PNN